Christian players feel left out of World Cup party

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia Egypt’s first World Cup in 28 canada goose outlet toronto factory years has captivated the soccer crazy nation, with intense focus on the squad and the broader game.

canada goose outlet in montreal The Egyptians played the first match of the tournament June 15 and held two time World Cup winner Uruguay scoreless for 89 minutes, canada goose outlet nyc until conceding a late goal and losing 1 0. canada goose outlet in montreal

canada goose womens outlet Still, the performance with star striker Mohamed Salah injured on the sidelines attracted international praise and gripped the millions of people gathering in groups across Egypt to watch their team together. canada goose womens outlet

It was a welcome distraction for Egyptians who are struggling under harsh economic conditions. The 3 1 loss in the next match to host Russia, even with Salah back in canada goose outlet reviews the lineup, ended Egypt’s chances of advancing beyond the group stage. Despite the loss, the love and respect enjoyed by the team and the players remained intact.

Yet it wasn’t an entirely unifying experience.

For the country’s Christians, about 10 percent of the population, the composition of the team and the way the squad was perceived highlighted what they believe is a problem with the sport in Egypt.

No Christian has been on the national soccer squad goose outlet canada for more than a decade, and just one played for any of the 18 top flight clubs last season.

canada goose outlet woodbury Egyptian coaches and officials dismiss any suggestion of discrimination, but Christians disagree. Egypt’s Christian spiritual leader has broken the church’s silence on the issue by publicly complaining about their disproportionate representation in the sport. canada goose outlet woodbury

Egypt’s all Muslim World Cup squad has been nicknamed the prostrators because the players offer canada goose outlet online uk a Muslim prayer when they score. They regularly pray together when in camp and read the opening verse of the Quran before kickoff. Some perform the Muslim ritual wash before games. Generally, they frame competition, wins and defeats in religious terms.

goose outlet canada Hassan Shehatah, one of Egypt’s most successful coaches, said nearly a decade ago that, to him, a player’s religious piety was as important as his skills. Hassan led an all Muslim squad to win three of Egypt’s seven African titles between 2006 and 2010. goose outlet canada

When goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawy was named man of the match against Uruguay, he refused the Budweiser sponsored award on religious grounds.

The perceived exclusion of Christians from top flight soccer and the national team is at odds with the outreach to the ancient community by Abdel Fattah el Sissi, Egypt’s general turned president who led the military’s 2013 ouster of an Islamist president. El Sissi has emphatically and repeatedly spoken about inclusion and sectarian harmony.

Pope Tawadros II, head of the Orthodox Coptic Christians and a close el Sissi ally, rarely speaks publicly of discrimination, but has recently voiced his opinion on the issue. “It’s extraordinary that all of Egypt’s football teams don’t have a single Copt who has good legs and who kicked a ball on the streets when he was little,” he said.

canada goose outlet ontario Ahmed Hossam, a retired striker and a Muslim who played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs went further, claiming in a recent television interview that youth team coaches were cagooseclearance driving Christians away. canada goose outlet ontario

canada goose outlet edmonton “Regrettably, there’s a lot of people in Egypt who are bigoted over color, religion and ethnicity,” Hossam said. “We must confront them and not bury our heads in the sand. Can you believe it that in the history of football in Egypt, only five Christians played at the top level?” canada goose outlet edmonton

canada goose outlet in canada James Gendi, the priest for St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Little Rock and for St. Mary Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Houston, Texas, said although he did not grow up in Egypt and couldn’t address the issue from personal experience, “through my dealings with congregants this is, unfortunately, the reality.” canada goose outlet in canada

“Christians [in Egypt] are not canada goose outlet canada goose outlet sale given equal opportunity,” said Gendi in an email. “But canada goose factory outlet at the end of the day, we put our trust in God to give us the portion of honor and/or oppression as He sees fit for the glory of His name.”

canada goose vest outlet As the only Christian on his soccer youth team, Ramon Zhery says he canada goose jacket outlet tried everything he could to blend in with his teammates. At the end, it was not enough. Zhery, now 28, plays for a third division club in southern Egypt. He says discrimination against his faith kept him from rising further. canada goose vest outlet

Zhery recounted how he tried to establish harmony with his teammates and reassure them that, though a Christian, he was just another player like them.

canada goose outlet uk fake When they huddled before kickoff to recite the Quran’s opening verse a ritual meant to serve as a plea for divine help he whispered a Christian prayer to himself. When at camp, he woke canada goose outlet black friday up before everyone and went about rousing them to perform the dawn prayers, one of five that Muslims offer daily. canada goose outlet uk fake

canada goose outlet online store “Mohammed Salah is a world star and he prostrates every time he scores and everyone knows he is a Muslim,” said canada goose outlet Zhery. canada goose outlet online store

official canada goose outlet The Christians’ response to their perceived canada goose outlet jackets exclusion from domestic soccer has been “church canada goose outlet uk football” a nationwide league of five a side teams that is played mostly on church grounds or rented pitches. official canada goose outlet

Andrew Raafat, a physical education teacher who tried his luck in club soccer before he settled for a coaching job at a Cairo church, says some of the better young players he works with want to play at the top level.

canada goose outlet black friday “I cannot tell them that they will never be selected,” Raafat said. “They get selected sometimes, but they are later let go.” canada goose outlet black friday

canada goose outlet uk Not everyone agrees. Retired international midfielder Ismail Youssef, soccer director of Cairo’s Zamalek club, dismissed suggestions of discrimination. canada goose outlet uk

canada goose outlet in toronto “I don’t think they are deliberately excluded, the better official canada goose outlet ones among them get to canada goose outlet in usa play,” Youssef said. “There is no nepotism in football.” canada goose outlet in toronto

canada goose outlet 2015 Information for this article was contributed by Francisca Jones of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. canada goose outlet 2015

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